Youth Celebration Week is an evolution of the Camden Youth Safety Taskforce Report’s legacy, first introduced in 2018, with this year’s program featuring inspiring projects, competitions, and community forums.
Camden Council’s Youth Celebration Week has concluded with a series of vibrant events aimed at empowering young people, youth workers, and professionals. This annual initiative, which builds on the success of Camden Youth Safety Week, showcased the council’s commitment to youth safety, community involvement, and positive activities for young people.
Youth Celebration Week is an evolution of the Camden Youth Safety Taskforce Report’s legacy, first introduced in 2018, with this year’s program featuring inspiring projects, competitions, and community forums.
Kicking off the week, Acland Burghley School’s Hall for All hosted the Youth Safety Multi-Media Competition awards ceremony. The competition spotlighted the creativity of young people, who used diverse art forms—dance, poetry, animation, and filmmaking—to explore themes of safety, community, and empowerment.
This year’s joint winners were:
Mosaic LGBT+ Young Persons’ Trust: In collaboration with Publica, they created a short video reflecting on safety and belonging for LGBT+ youth in Camden. Their project, which included an Identity Manifesto, explored how gender expression impacts feelings of safety in public spaces.
Regent’s Park Young Guardians: They produced Jamal’s Story, an animated film that addresses criminal exploitation, county lines, and vaping, with a focus on resilience and the consequences of poor choices.
Youth Safety Event
Acland Burghley School, NW5
Photographer: Justin Thomas
Runners-up included:
Camden Learning and Fitzrovia Youth in Action: Two videos highlighting the impact of video gaming on school attendance.
British Somali Community Centre: A film showcasing the positive impact of sports on young women, emphasizing safe spaces for female athletes.
Acland Burghley School: A contemporary dance performed live, addressing mental health and the stresses of constant mobile phone connectivity.
Parliament Hill School: Posters and a poem on online safety, with Camden Youth MP Zarin Bakhshzaad presenting the poem live at the awards.
Councillor Sabrina Francis, Cabinet Member for Jobs, Young People, and Culture, praised the initiative, said:”Our priority is to create a safe and supportive environment for young people in Camden to flourish. Youth Celebration Week allows us to engage directly with our communities, listen to young voices, and celebrate their incredible achievements. Alongside our partners, I’m proud of what we’ve achieved so far and remain committed to reducing youth violence and providing opportunities for young people to thrive.”
Youth Celebration Week serves as a platform for young people to express themselves, engage with their communities, and explore opportunities to shape a brighter, safer future. With continued support from Camden Council and its partners, initiatives like this are transforming the borough into a haven for creativity, empowerment, and positive change.
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